Project 164 Part 9

Those of us who live in the northern part of the country have the pleasure of driving our cars in the snow and ice for about three or four months out of every year. Unfortunately, the effects of road salts and increased accidents during the Winter months have the potential to shorten the life of the limited population of Alfa Romeo 164s which travel the roads today. In keeping with Pat Braden's recent "Endangered Species" article, I'd like to offer a few suggestions for preserving the endangered 164 from complete extinction due to the ravages of Winter.

Snow Tires

Many years ago, the creation of the front-wheel drive automobile coupled with all-season radials led many of the automobile manufacturers to equip their cars with this new year- round tire, apparently obviating the need for a second set of wheels with snow tires. But much like the hybrid bicycle is a compromise between a road bike and a mountain bike (doing neither job particularly well), the all-season tire is also a compromise. The best approach is to have a set of high-performance tires for the warmer months and a separate set of snow tires for the Winter. Incidentally, this approach gives you the justification to purchase that neat set of 16" alloy wheels you've been looking at, and use the existing 15" wheels for the snow tires!

Well, it's taken many years, but snow tires have made a big come-back, both in technological advancements and sales volume. There are a number of snow tires from which to choose, and certainly all of them will do a better job of handling the snow and ice than a set of all-season radials.

I limited my selection to the leading name brands, and eventually selected the Dunlop Graspic HS (http://www.dunloptire.com) as being the best value in an all-out snow tire. The Graspic HS features a hydrophobic molecular compound that chemically repels water from the contact patch for maximum grip on ice covered roads. It carries a Q speed rating, which equates to a maximum speed of 99 MPH (probably a reasonable limit to observe during the Winter). Due to the amount of grip these tires supply, Dunlop strongly recommends they be fitted only as a set of four. The stock 195/65 x 15" tire size is the way to go with snow tires on the 164, as a taller, narrower profile is best suited to snow travel.

An early North Jersey snow fall has given me the opportunity to test the Dunlop Graspics in a real world Winter Wonderland. The results have proven well worth the modest investment. The ability of these tires to cut through the snow and corner with laser-like precision rather than hapless meandering is an eye-opening experience. The ability of the car to stop in snow is nearly as assuring as dry pavement - truly mind-boggling when compared to the all-season "ice skates" which the car was previously shod with. I now find myself anxiously looking forward to the next snow fall.

Rust Prevention

One of the reasons I purchased an Alfa 164 was because of the fact that the sheet metal is 100% galvanized steel, much like every Porsche built since 1975. Although galvanized steel is nearly impervious to rusting, it is not altogether exempt. Given enough time, trapped dirt and road salt can eat away at the galvanized coating and eventually eat into the steel. The key to avoiding this situation is quite simply stated; keep your Alfa clean! The challenge part is getting access to the places that need to be kept clean. Here's a quick summary of the two key problem areas on the 164 and how to keep them rust free:

1. Wheel wells - The most thorough (albeit time consuming) way to clean the wheel wells is to remove the black plastic splash shields and scrub out the entire area. The lip of the well is most prone to accumulating dirt and salt which traps moisture against the sheet metal. The rear, passenger side is especially prone to dirt accumulation due to the location of the fuel tank filler hose. Short of completely removing the splash shields, it is possible to get most of the dirt removed by pushing the shields away from the fender edge and washing the dirt out with a stream of water. Should you find any patches of rust, it would be wise to touch these up with a liberal dose of Wurth Rust Guard before the "tin worm" eats his way through to the outside.
2. Windshields - The style of windshield gaskets used on the 164 are prone to holding moisture and dirt, which can slowly grind off the paint and galvanized coating nearest the windshield, allowing rust to proliferate. I have seen a number of 164s with this condition, most commonly occurring just above the front windshield. The preventative action best taken to avoid this condition is a thorough cleaning with a fine brush around the windshield whenever the car is cleaned (which should be more frequent during the winter months). If you find yourself bringing the Alfa to the automatic car wash (shame, shame.), a quick scrub around the windshield before entering may be helpful (assuming the car isn't so dirty that you risk scratching the finish by doing this).

Naturally, the ideal way to preserve your investment is to avoid driving the car at all during the Winter months. (our friends in Florida and California might suggest another alternative). However, a properly cleaned and equipped Alfa 164 should last for many, many years, regardless of where it is driven.